Short Interest Rises in Facebook, Google, and Zynga

Between the September 13 and September 30 settlement dates, social media companies in the US saw a significant upswing in short positions.

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Editor's Note: This content was originally published on Benzinga.com by Nelson Hem.

Among the social media companies based in the United States, Facebook (NASDAQ:FB), Google (NASDAQ:GOOG), and Zynga (NASDAQ:ZNGA) saw significant upswings in short interest between the September 13 and September 30 settlement dates.

However, LinkedIn (NYSE:LNKD) and Shutterfly (NASDAQ:SFLY) bucked the trend, with declining short interest in the first two weeks of the month.

In addition, note that the number of US-listed shares (or ADRs) sold short of Chinese social media companies Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU) and Sina (NASDAQ:SINA) shrank in late September, while those in Renren (NYSE:RENN), Sohu.com (NASDAQ:SOHU), and YouKu Todou (NYSE:YOKU) grew.

Below our firm takes a quick look at how Facebook, Google, and Zynga have fared and what analysts expect from them.

Facebook

The number of shares sold short in this social networking giant jumped about 48% to near 40.01 million, the highest level of short interest so far this year. That was on top of a 15% rise in short interest in the previous period, and it represents more than 2% of the total float.

Facebook is expected to post annual revenue growth of more than 30% both this year and next. The company has a market capitalization of almost $114 billion. While its long-term earnings per share (EPS) growth forecast is about 30%, the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio remains in the stratosphere.

Of the 40 analysts who follow the stock and were surveyed by Thomson/First Call, 13 rate the stock at Strong Buy, and 16 others also recommend buying shares. The mean price target, or where analysts expect the share price to go, is more than 8% higher than the current share price.

The share price has retreated more than 7% in the past week, but it is still about 67% higher year-to-date. Over the past six months, the stock has outperformed the likes of AOL (NYSE:AOL), Google, and Yahoo! (NASDAQ:YHOO).

Google

Short interest in this Mountain View, California-based operator of Google+ and YouTube rose more than 23% in the period to more than 5.39 million shares, which was about two percent of the float. That was on top of an increase of more than 16% in the previous period. The days to cover is less than three.

The company has a market cap near $285 billion but does not offer a dividend. It has a long-term EPS growth forecast of almost 15%, and its P/E ratio is less than the industry average. Also, Google's operating margin also is higher than the industry average, and its return on equity is almost 16%.

Of the 42 surveyed analysts, 32 recommend buying shares, with 12 of them rating the stock at Strong Buy. They believe the shares have plenty of headroom, as their mean price target is more than 13% higher than the current share price. That target would be a new multiyear high.

Shares have traded mostly between $850 and $900 since May. The share price is up more than 18% year-to-date. The stock has underperformed not only Yahoo and Facebook over the past six months, but the Nasdaq (INDEXNASDAQ:.IXIC) as well. It has outperformed the S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX) though.

Zynga

Short interest in the San Francisco-based online social games operator rose more than 28% to around 29.32 million shares during the period. That ended three consecutive periods of declining short interest, and it represented more than 5% of Zynga's total float.

Zynga withdrew its application for an online gambling license from the state of Nevada during the period. The company has a market cap of less than $3 billion. The long-term EPS growth forecast is about 30%, but note that the return on equity is in the red.

For at least three months, the analysts' consensus recommendation has been to hold shares of Zynga. Note also that the share price has overrun the analysts' mean price target. So, until price targets are raised, no upside potential is indicated.

The share price jumped almost 28% in September, though it has pulled back about 7% in the past week. Over the past six months, the stock has underperformed Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:EA) and Facebook, as well as the Nasdaq.

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